Eight hundred high school students from every corner of Iowa attended this year’s conference, June 25-27 at Iowa State University. “The conference gives these youth the opportunity to meet new friends, find new opportunities, and learn about the community and themselves in the process,” said Brenda Allen, conference coordinator and 4-H youth program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The conference included workshops, keynote sessions with motivational speakers, mixers and dances, a banquet and community service projects. The students stayed in the residence halls at Iowa State University, getting a taste of campus life.

The 2012-2013 State 4-H Council students created the three-day 4-H Youth Conference programming. “This year we had three workshops, three different keynote sessions with motivational speakers and service projects,” said Allen. During the conference, students could choose a specific category track to follow, such as animal science, communication skills, career exploration and food science or could attend a mix of workshops. The tracks gave students the opportunity to learn more about a specific topic. In addition to Animal Science Round-Up and the traditional conference opportunities, the CSI: Crops track was available. CSI: Crops focused on students playing detective, figuring out what had happened to a specific crop in a field.

“It’s a great chance to expose young people to a college campus and university life, as well as giving them opportunities to learn about themselves and possible careers,” said Allen. “What young people go home with is new friends, connections and ideas.”

The 4-H Youth Conference is a way for youth to find their passion, meet new friends and unmask their opportunities available through 4-H.

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Photo caption: Students listen to a lecture on creating an iPad app at the 4-H Youth Conference.